​So, I’ve been wanting to get into directing- particularly for my own plays and musicals. I mean, what better way to get my work out there and help build my “brand” than by me doing it all myself (or at least initially by myself). But directing and producing shows is overwhelming, and to be honest, I have absolutely zero experience in it.
          So being the research loving person I am, I started looking into classes and workshops to learn how to direct for film and theatre professionally. Not that I can realistically afford to take any classes right now- but a girl can dream, can’t she?
         Anyway, one thing I kept noticing as a common assignment among all of the classes I was interested in was that they required the students to practice by directing a one or two page script. Mostly for time constraints I’m sure. But then it hit me.
           Why don’t I write a super short script, one to two pages in length myself? Something easy to produce. Something that can be completed fairly quickly (because I’m an impatient and overeager girl).
        I’ve gotten into the habit of writing short form plays of 10-20 minutes long in the last several years and am a huge fan of the 10 minute/one act genre. But let’s be real, making my 20 minute show “Retail!: the Musical”, complete with 5 actors and 4 musical numbers that will ALSO have to be produced- doesn’t seem like a great idea for my first production. I mean I absolutely LOVE the script and the songs and CANNOT WAIT for you to get to see it, but I know deep down it will be a bit too much work for me to tackle for my first directorial experiment. Unless you count the audio sample I did for my developing Sci-Fi musical “The Other Me” but I don’t. Not really.
         So, anyway, here I am. Writing some super short scripts of 1-2 pages in length that I plan to be filming and sharing with you soon. I might have to act them out myself for a while, but it will definitely be good practice either way. Baby steps in the right direction is what I always say. I’m setting goals, making plans, and getting closer to the realization of my dreams one day at a time. And I hope you will too. Life is too short, so make it the one you want. One step at a time is all it takes. 

         So, after spending the last few years trying to build the “socially conscious multimedia company” Femmespire Media, I’ve decided to change my focus. Or at least, I’ve decided to STREAMLINE my focus. I’m considering closing shop. I have already cancelled my business website. At least for now. I’ve got too many things I want to do with my life and already have enough on my plate. It’s time to FOCUS on what I REALLY WANT and not what I think other people will think is more credible. Which I admit, I have been guilty of. Big time.
           But lets be real, everything that’s been done for Femmespire Media is ME anyway. All the encouraging little stories, positive books, plays, music and inspirational quote sharing I had been working on in its name has been my vision and MY heart all along. So why should I waste all this time being so split brained trying to build a separate brand? When in reality- I AM THE BRAND.
        Tiffany Grand. Tiffany Grand Media. That is a potentially powerful brand in and of itself. Don’t believe me? Just ask Oprah. I don’t need to be hiding behind the mask of a separate enterprise. No matter how much telling people I’m building a business and an online store has made me feel like less of a crazy person with crazy artsy dreams.
            I am Tiffany Grand: Songwriter, Playwright, Author, soon-to-be Director and Producer of media with positive messages. A woman passionate about writing musical theatre, the eventual movie musical, and books with soundtrack albums. Discussing issues of mental health, self-esteem, facing fear, letting go of regret, and living your truth. I’ve talked a big game behind the mask of Femmespire Media long enough, but it’s time to finally live it for myself.
            The goals and dreams I have may not necessarily be new, as they are things I’ve been dreaming of and working on in some capacity my entire life. But the decision to focus on building my personal brand and vision SOLELY is new and loooong over-due. So C.S. Lewis’s quote will always ring true.
            “You’re never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
       And this crazy writer life is mine. Full of its ups and downs and struggles with focus. But I’m gonna do it. It’s my life and I only get one. I can’t waste it trying to be someone else or working on projects that don’t feel authentic to me. When I’m on my death bed, I want to look back and be proud of the legacy I left behind. I want to know I said everything I had in my heart to say to people through my gifts and passion for writing. I want to encourage people, validate people, and stir them up to live their best lives possible through the arts. I want to be vulnerable, honest, and real. Something I admit, I have never really been.
            So here I am. Setting new goals and just trying to be me. I have so many great projects in the works. I can’t wait for you to see them. Thank you for joining me on this journey. And if you aren’t already, please follow me on social media @TiffanyGMedia. Thanks again. 

     I know, I know, I've been behind on the posting lately. I've been busy writing new songs and scripts for musical theatre (the thing I love the most) and stressing about trying to find a second/new job. Which I admit, has had me struggling with additional anxiety and depression. I was in a rut. But things are turning around! 
  After what's probably nearly a decade worth of working in retail/customer service jobs- I'm getting something positive out of it. I mean, don't get me wrong, I will always love my retail family (especially you, my Nashville Walgreens people) but it was NOT what I thought I was going to do with my life. Now I only work in customer service part-time, with some side-hustles, as I pursue this crazy writer-entrepreneur life. But it's been extremely therapeutic to write about my experience in a fun musical way. And when the complete musical play is officially staged I hope it will speak to other people as well. 
      I am determined to get positive things from my disappointments and perceived mistakes in life, and this show is just another bi-product of that. 
      Check out the demo song from my new project "Retail! the musical" above. This is an excerpt from the longer work. It's a show for 5 characters, all composed on the UKULELE. I hope you enjoy. 
       
        

       Woo! So, I’ve been working on a full length, Sci-Fi, pop/rock musical titled “The Other Me”. It isn’t done yet, but I’m eager to share some of my work in progress.
         So, I made a little video, an audio-play/lyric video of the opening musical scene. The entire thing is written, produced, and performed by me. Although, I admit, I am NOT a singer or an actress, nor do I have ANY aspirations to be one. I am 200% a writer: a scriptwriter, songwriter and author with maybe some director/producer fantasies.
        But I also think it’s important to put some work out into the world. I’m always putting off sharing things until it’s “perfect” or I feel “ready”. But let’s be real, things will never be perfect and I probably won’t EVER feel ready. So, time to stop procrastinating and let people in on the process.
          I think of this audioplay/lyric vid as a DEMO/SAMPLE of the musical in progress. Something to help keep me accountable and hopefully help garner some interest from other, much more talented singers/actresses/film crew.
        This particular sample is only 5 minutes long. I also have a 10 minute One-Woman Musical Play version that I would like to have performed live on stage. Ya know, kind of like an appetizer for the full-length version.
       If you are interested in getting involved in any capacity don’t hesitate to hit me up! Email me at TiffanyGrandMedia@gmail.com. But until everything is ready, enjoy this little 5 minute demo video.
           Arthur Ashe said it well: “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” So that’s what I’m trying to do. That’s what I AM doing. This video is only the tip of the iceberg. There are still so many awesome projects I’m working on that are near completion. I can’t wait to share them with you in the future. Thanks for your support!

          ​So, I’ve been particularly down lately. This past week has been rough emotionally. Wounds from the pasts, childhood stuff that I thought I had moved on from have been creeping their ugly faces back up to the surface and knocking the wind out of me. I’ve had gut wrenching sob fests at least once a day, every day this week. And it has not been fun.
          I am broken. I suffer a lot of deep-rooted rejection issues from my family. Words and experiences that still haunt me to this day, that I don’t know how to break away from. I truly thought I was getting better but the door came flying open again. Although I suppose, if I’m honest with myself it was probably never really closed to begin with. I just stuck a metaphorical poster or book shelf in front of it for a while in my mind.
       Emotional healing is a process. A long process. And it hurts. A LOT.
          I, by no means, have it together and it sucks to admit it. But what I have gotten out of it is a deep, intense passion to encourage and share love with others. Whether that be through books, plays with positive message, the new empowering shirt designs I’ll be releasing shortly, or just through all the little inspirational quote images and posts I share on the Femmespire Media social media pages.
          I am DETERMINED to help people through my own pain. I am determined to be that encouraging, supportive, loving, empathetic voice I never really felt like I got. I’m determined to help other people who struggle with insecurity, depression, feelings of worthlessness and rejection, who feel invisible and looked over, and just plain need a reminder of their worth and value. I have struggled with all of that immensely over the years and I know I’m not alone. Some people are just more aware of it than others. But it’s OK.
         I want to remind you that if you struggle as well that you are no less lovable, valuable or worthy because of your wounds and occasional weakness. You are no less a survivor because you break down on occasion. Just don’t STAY DOWN. Don’t let your brokenness defeat you. CHOOSE to take the bad things in your life-whatever they are- and use them to help other people. Just like the above image quote says:
 
“If you feel discouraged..
Encourage others.
If you struggle with low self-esteem
and feelings of worthlessness..
​Compliment someone else.
If you feel unloved and invisible.. 
Give someone else who’s having a bad day
a hug or a needed listening ear.
Share and be the love
you feel you didn’t get
when you needed it the most.
It’s not selfish.
It’s called being determined
to help someone else through your own pain
and not letting the past win.
Break the cycle.”
 
          *I’ll be donating copies of the Femmespire Magazine and a portion of all sales of the upcoming merch to organizations that help hurting, broken people. Follow me on social media and my websites to stay up to date and to find out how you can help.

#sharethelove #helpthehurting #encourageothers #emotionalhealing #bethedifference. 

 
​      “Just focus on your strengths, what comes naturally to you, and what you really love to do.” This quote came to me in a dream I had like 15 years ago. I didn’t really understand it back then and have made a lot of mistakes since. But it’s probably become more relevant to me now than ever.   ​
 
          So, I’m publishing a magazine for my multimedia company Femmespire Media (if you’re not already following us on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram @FemmespireMedia you are missing out!). Anyway, this first issue will be discussing issues related to overcoming emotional/verbal/physical abuse, mental illness, homelessness, emotional healing, self-love, and becoming the best version of yourself. I’ll also be donating copies of issues to women’s shelters, drug rehab facilities, and possibly women’s prisons- all places where I believe women struggle with and need encouragement in these areas the most.
          Anyway, today I was home working on some songs that will be featured in the mag. Song lyrics with relevance to the themes of the upcoming issue. Tweaking the existing lyrics and trying to come up with appropriate backing music to accompany it. But after getting frustrated one too many times, I’ve had to admit a hard truth to myself.
​          I’m not much of an instrumentalist. I’m not a composer. I might have received a Bachelor’s degree in Music from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston MA, studied music composition & arranging, and learned to play a half dozen instruments, but I am, alas, not as gifted and skilled at composing, playing or producing music as I would like (or I'm just super rusty!). I’ve had to admit to myself that I am most skilled and passionate about writing lyrics, melody and other literary prose. Which is a blow to my ego I will confess.
          But after what is now decades of feeling bad about myself, feeling that I am not good enough the way I am, and believing the lies that I must change myself to fit someone else’s image of what it means to be successful, talented, and beautiful- I call BULL SHIT!
​          If no one else has ever told you then I am telling you now: you do you! You are fine the way you are. You are talented, lovable, beautiful, and capable of greatness. If you have a dream inside your heart you need to just GO FOR IT! You might need to find other people with complementary skills to help you bring whatever your dreams are to fruition. But you don’t have to compare yourself to anyone. You were made the way you are on PURPOSE. It just might, like me, take you 15 years to figure it out and finally do it. 
          But also like me, you might have to learn to lay your ego down to get anything worth while done in life.
          Like, I have to (sometimes begrudgingly) admit that I lack certain skills and strengths, like composing instrumental parts to songs. But I have other great and meaningful strengths. And I need to FOCUS on those strengths instead of wasting time trying to do the things other people were gifted to contribute. It takes a HUGE weight off my shoulders accepting that I don’t have to do EVERYTHING all the time.
          I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m still a control freak and WANT to do everything all the time, but I’m finally starting to learn that I don’t HAVE TO. There are so many other amazing, wonderful people in the world that are gifted in what I lack. And I am determined to find them.
          AD PLUG ALERT: if you are or know anyone who is into arranging/producing original music to songs or singing/acting/producing for film/theatre then send them my way! I have so many projects in the works right now. Some of which I will be stubbornly producing on my own. But let’s be real, they’ll all be much better with the help and support of other talented, passionate individuals. Message me at TiffanyGrandMedia@gmail.com for more info and to get involved!
          And to reiterate the subconscious wisdom of my younger self: “Just focus on your strengths, what comes naturally to you, and what you really love to do.”
          Life's too short to waste it trying to be someone else. You do you. Find your tribe. You got this.